Gawker Media CEO Nick Denton spoke at Code Conference for roughly 45 minutes on Thursday in a discussion with Kara Swisher and an empty chair, which was reserved for Denton’s arch rival, billionaire Peter Thiel.
Thiel, who admitted to funding anti-Gawker lawsuits, was recently challenged to a public debate by Denton, hence the empty chair; he didn’t show.
CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla told TheWrap that despite Thiel’s no show, Denton “comes across as someone who has his tail between his legs, because he’s obviously facing an existential crisis.”
Thiel remains upset at Gawker for trying to out him as gay nearly a decade ago and is now funding the Hulk Hogan lawsuit that threatens to put Gawker out of business.